This blog began through a NIFA grant for Missouri Beginning Farmers. It continues today as a way for beginning farmers to learn about new ideas and to hear about upcoming events of interest. It is maintained by Debi Kelly (kellyd@missouri.edu).

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About Me

As an Extension Associate with the University of Missouri, I work with beginning farmers, small farms, alternative agriculture and organic farming. I am also the Co-coordinator for the Missouri Sustainable Agriculture and Research (SARE) Education Professional Development Program (PDP).

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Sunday, March 29, 2015

The
Missouri Department of Agriculture has funds available for the 2015 National
Organic Certification Cost Share Program through funds provided by the United
States Department of Agriculture. The program will provide cost share
assistance to organic producers and handlers receiving certification or
continuation of certification by a USDA accredited certifying agency starting
October 1, 2014, and ending September 30, 2015. Under the Act, cost-share
assistance payments are limited to 75 percent of an individual producer's or
handler's certification costs, with a maximum of $750 per certification or
category of certification per year. The National Organic Program (NOP)
currently recognizes four categories of certification: crops, wild crops,
livestock and processing/handling. Operations may receive one reimbursement per
certificate or category of certification per year. Each certificate may be
reimbursed separately. Likewise, each category of certification may be
reimbursed separately.

To be eligible for reimbursement in the current fiscal year,
applicants must successfully receive their first organic certification or have
incurred expenses related to the renewal of certification by a USDA accredited
certifying agency between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015. The organic
production or handling operation must be located within Missouri, comply with
the USDA National Organic Program regulations for organic production or
handling and have received certification or continuation of certification by a
USDA-accredited certifying agency between the eligible dates.

One year of
certification reimbursement is available fromOctober 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015.

Program
Participants: Organic Operations

To
receive cost share assistance from their respective state departments, eligible
organic operations must apply to their participating state department to
receive cost share payments. Eligible operations must apply to the
participating state agency in which they are located to receive cost share
reimbursements. Entities operating in more than on state should apply in the
state where their federal taxes are filed. These entities may only apply for
reimbursements once per certificate or certification category per year, as
verified by certification documentation. The applicable National Organic
Program (NOP) regulations are available on the NOP website at www.ams.usda.gov/nop.
In order to be eligible for reimbursement in the current federal fiscal year,
applicants must have received their certification or have incurred expenses
related to the renewal of certification by a USDA accredited certifying agent
between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015.

Allowable
Costs

Payments
are limited to 75 percent of an individual producer's or handler's
certification costs up to a maximum of $750 per certification or category of
certification per year. The NOP currently recognizes four categories of
certification: crops, wild crops, livestock and processing/handling. Operations
may receive one reimbursement per certificate or category of certification per
year. Each certificate may be reimbursed separately. Likewise, each category of
certification may be reimbursed separately. No other direct costs are
permitted. For a sample list of allowable and unallowable expenses on
reimbursement applications, see Chart of Allowable
and Unallowable Costs.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

The Mizzou Plant Diagnostic Clinic
(PDC) is open all year to receive plant samples that are affected by a disease
or disorder. The PDC can also identify pesky weeds, plants of interest,
mushrooms and insects or spiders.

Last year the Clinic
processed 445 samples, over 50% of these consisted of ornamentals, turf, and
fruit or vegetable producing plants. Diseases ranged the gamut from anthracnose
to wilts, making it an interesting year in the Plant Clinic. In 2014,
most woody ornamentals were diagnosed with leaf spots and vascular wilt
diseases. Bacterial blights and root rots were most problematic in
herbaceous ornamentals. On zoysiagrass lawns, both chinch bugs and large
patch were most often diagnosed. The food producing plants had a myriad
of issues ranging from root rots to leaf spots.

The PDC is open all
year. It is encouraged that you get a diagnosis before applying
pesticides or other controls, as this will allow for selection of a control
measure that will most effectively deal with your precise pest problem.
The PDC is open for sample drop off, Monday through Friday from 9am to
4pm. Sample can also be mailed directly to the PDC or dropped off at your
local extension office. If possible, take a picture of the sick plant
before digging it up; if several plants are affected a picture of the entire planting
is also encouraged. Pictures may be submitted in an email to
plantclinic@missouri.edu, printed and submitted with the sample or supplied on
a flash drive. As always, please include a Submission Form, which has
been filled out as completely as possible, with the sample. Submission
Forms and information on how to collect and ship samples can be found on the
website or at your local Extension Office.

Friday, March 27, 2015

By now most farmers have
heard about cover crops and how incorporating them into rotations can increase
yields and reduce input costs while providing other valuable benefits. But
there still are many farmers who have not tried cover crops because they are
unsure about the costs.

To help answer that
question, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS, has
developed a simple digital tool. The Cover Crop Economic Decision Support Tool
is a spreadsheet that helps farmers, landowners and others make informed
decisions when considering whether to add cover crops to their systems. It was
developed by two NRCS economists, Lauren Cartwright, of Missouri, and Bryon Kirwan,
of Illinois.

Missouri State
Conservationist J.R. Flores explained that the tool offers a partial budget
analysis. It focuses only on operational changes that farmers make, things that
affect the actual costs and benefits that farmers see when they add cover
crops.

“The tool focuses on
benefits and costs that can easily be expressed in dollars,” Flores said. “As a
natural resources agency, we are excited about the resource benefits realized
when farmers utilize cover crops and no-tillage. But we also understand that
farmers need to be profitable. We hope that this tool will help farmers see
that they don’t have to sacrifice one of those two things to realize the
other.”

Cartwright said her
inspiration for developing the tool came from attending some of the many soil
health workshops throughout the state.

“I would hear the main
speakers, farmers who have been using cover crops for many years, talk about
how they have no runoff and they are producing corn for less than $2 per
bushel. And I found myself thinking ‘That’s good. But how did you get to that
point, and how much did it cost to get there?’” she said.

Cartwright said she teamed
up with Kirwan to develop the tool because they each brought a different
skillset to the process. Kirwan has a strong economic and agronomic background,
and owns a farm. Cartwright has degrees in environmental science and economics
and is strong in programming. She has used her skills to develop seven other
economic tools for NRCS.

The spreadsheet tool that
Kirwan and Cartwright developed is designed to measure:

Direct nutrient credits

Input reductions

Yield increases and
decreases

Seed and establishment
costs

Erosion reductions

Grazing opportunities

Overall soil fertility
levels

Water storage and
infiltration improvements

The tool’s analysis
depends on data that farmers enter. They can run “what if” scenarios if they
want to evaluate a range of values. The tool offers results in both dollars and
graphs, showing short-term and long-term benefits.

Cartwright said for most
scenarios, the tool shows a clear financial benefit for those who learn to
manage cover crops and stick with them. There is a significant jump in benefits
over time, primarily because of increased organic matter in the soil. The tool
also indicates that short-term costs can be offset by farmers who incorporate
grazing of cover crops.

According to NRCS and
other research, long-term use of cover crops offers improved profitability
because of higher yields and lower input costs. Healthier soil also improves
water quality, infiltration, weed and pest control, wildlife habitat, and more.

“Some people view cover
crops as a trend,” Flores said. “I think it is much more than that. Farming in
ways that improve soil health is coming to the forefront now, but those ways
will eventually become commonplace.”

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Thursday, March 19, 2015

The
Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture is making a presentation
available online on post-harvest handling for produce. The presentation covers
harvest, cleaning and cooling, packing area infrastructure, sorting and
grading, storage, transport, and more. Companion handouts are also available
online. These can be found online by clicking here. Topics covered include:RespirationHarvestCleaning & CoolingPacking Area InfrastructureSorting & GradingStoragePacking & PackagingTransportDisplay & Point-of-sale

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

The Missouri
Pollinator Conservancy Program offers beekeepers new ways to protect hives
from pesticide drift.The group is working with the DriftWatch Specialty Crop Site
Registry to help pesticide applicators locate nearby hives before spraying. It
also offers real-time weather data to help them decide when to spray. Wind can
make pesticides drift from their intended targets.

The program opens talks between farmers, consultants, applicators
and beekeepers to protect the more than 400 species of bees in Missouri, says
Moneen Jones, University of Missouri entomologist. She works for the MU College
of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the Fisher Delta Center in
Portageville.

She encourages beekeepers to register their hives at https://mo.driftwatch.org/.
Participation is voluntary, and beekeepers can limit the information that is
available for public viewing. Beehive locations are kept confidential, and
Jones says beekeepers do not need to worry about their personal information
being sold or distributed without consent.

Also, MU Extension offers large yellow "BeeCheck" flags
and poles for sale at a discount. The flags alert others that beehives are
close. The benefits of the program will outweigh any initial costs, Jones said.

Honeybee colonies in the United States decreased from 5 million in
the 1940s to 2.5 million today, according to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. Bee numbers began falling in the 1980s as new pathogens,
parasites, pests and nutrition problems hit bees at the same time. USDA
estimates that 33 percent of the country's hives were lost each winter from
2006 to 2011.

"We can cut economic losses for row-crop farmers and
beekeepers by managing row-crop pests and reduce the effect of pesticide drift
on beehives," Jones says.

Partners in the program are University of Missouri, Missouri
Agricultural Aviation Association, Missouri Department of Agriculture, Missouri
Farm Bureau, Missouri State Beekeepers Association and the MU Fisher Delta
Research Center. DriftWatch Specialty Crop Site Registry was created by Purdue
University. The nonprofit FieldWatch Inc. operates the website.

For more information, contact Jones at 573-379-5431 or Anastasia Becker, Missouri
Department of Agriculture at 573-526-0837.

Monday, March 16, 2015

It’s Grant Season! Read about these potential grants and see if
you, your farm, or your farm group/association are eligible.

"Increasing market
opportunities for local food producers is a sound investment in America's rural
economies, while also increasing access to healthy food for our nation's
families," Vilsack said. "Consumer demand for local, healthy food is
skyrocketing in schools, hospitals and wholesalers. These grant opportunities
allow farmers and ranchers to meet this demand, and feed our nation's kids."

The grant programs administered by
the Agricultural Marketing Service
(AMS) include the Specialty Crop Block
Grant Program (SCBGP), the Federal-State
Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP) and the Farmers Market and Local Food
Promotion Program which covers two types of grants: the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) and the Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP).
Also included in the announcement is the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service
(FNS) Farm to School Grant Program,
designed to bring local foods into the school cafeteria. USDA's Farm Service Agency
implements the NAP program, which has been expanded to better protect specialty
crop and other eligible producers from losses due to natural disasters.

"American farmers and ranchers
feed the nation. These grant programs provide vital support to specialty crop
producers, whose fruits and vegetables fill over half of the MyPlate
recommendations," said Agricultural Marketing Service Administrator Anne
Alonzo. "They also support local and regional food systems that are
meeting consumer demand and creating economic opportunities in rural and urban
communities around the country."

Over $63.2 million in SCBGP grants
are allocated to U.S. States and territories based on a formula that considers
both specialty crop acreage and production value. Interested applicants should
apply directly through their State department of agriculture. A listing of
state contacts and application due dates can be found at www.ams.usda.gov/scbgp.

The FSMIP provides $1 million in
matching funds to State departments of agriculture, state colleges and
universities, and other appropriate state agencies. Funds will support research
projects that address challenges and opportunities in marketing, transporting,
and distributing U.S. agricultural products domestically and internationally.

The Farmers Market and Local Food
Promotion Program provides a combined total of $26.6 million divided equally
between its two grant programs. The FMPP provides $13.3 million to support
projects for direct farmer-to-consumer marketing projects such as farmers
markets, community-supported agriculture programs, roadside stands, and
agritourism. The LFPP offers $13.3 million in funds for projects that support
intermediary supply chain activities for businesses that process, distribute,
aggregate, and store locally- or regionally-produced food products.

Grant applications for FSMIP, FMPP
and LFPP must be submitted electronically through www.Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time on May 14, 2015. Applicants should start the Grants.gov
registration process as soon as possible to ensure that they meet the deadline.

AMS will host a webinar on March
25, 2015, to introduce FMPP and LFPP to potential applicants and a
teleconference about FSMIP on March 31, 2015. For more information about SCBGP,
FSMIP, FMPP, and LFPP, including program background and webinar information,
visit the AMS grants website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSgrants.

With $6 million in funding
available, four different types of USDA Farm to School grants are available.
Planning grants help schools get started, while implementation grants enable
schools to expand existing programs. Support service grants allow community partners
such as non-profit entities, Indian tribal nations, state and local agencies,
and agriculture producers to provide broad reaching support to schools in their
efforts to bring local products into the cafeteria. Training grants are used to
disseminate best practices and spread strategies known to succeed. Proposals
for planning, implementation, and support service grants are due by 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time, May 20, 2015. Letters of intent for training grants are due by
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, April 30, 2015.

These programs are key elements of
the USDA's Know Your Food, Know Your Farmer initiative which coordinates the
Department's support for local and regional food systems. The Secretary has
identified local and regional food systems as one of the four pillars of rural
economic development.

The 2012 Census of
Agriculture indicates that more than 160,000 farmers and ranchers
nationwide are tapping into growing consumer demand by selling their
products locally. This segment of agriculture is a vibrant growth area
that is drawing young people back to rural communities, generating jobs
and improving quality of life in rural communities.

In FY13-14, USDA made
over 500 infrastructure investments that create new markets for local
food- including food hubs, scale-appropriate processing, and distribution
networks - that are connecting farmers and ranchers with new sources of
revenue and creating jobs.

Since the program began
in 2012, USDA's Farm to School program has funded 221 projects in 49
states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. According to the
USDA's Farm to School Census, schools spent over $385 million on local
food purchases during the 2011-2012 school year.

USDA
has expanded access to healthy foods in underserved communities by making EBT
available at farmers markets. Over 5,000 farmers markets now accept EBT, and
SNAP redemption at farmers markets nationwide rose from $4 million in 2009 to
over $18 million in 2014.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Well-managed cattle herds are run
through the corral and chutes several times a year for things like
vaccinations, castration, artificial insemination and parasite treatments.
Producers with good, workable chutes are more likely to complete the
appropriate practices than an owner with sub-par facilities according to Eldon
Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

"If you run beef cattle,
whether it is a stocker or cow-calf program, you need some type of facility in which
to treat those cattle," said Cole.

Since the profitability has returned
to the cattle business, Cole says there seems to be more interest in updating
marginal facilities. Cattle that get regular treatment will improve their
health and profitability.

"One feature I've noticed in
remodeled corrals is greater use of concrete. This is desirable, of course,
from a human and cattle safety and sanitation standpoint. However, if the
concrete is too smooth it results in slips and falling for both workers and the
cattle," said Cole.

Most new concrete floors are grooved
to aid in drainage and to prevent slips and falls. Some of this helps but a
simple mat is also a great solution to slipping and sliding, especially as the
cattle leave the head chute.

"Implement tire mats have been
used around chutes for years especially in feedlots. They'll work in this area
also. Observe your corral situation and look for areas to improve safety for
cattle and those who handle them," said Cole.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Small farms, and new farms, tend to
be extremely diverse in their enterprises, market outlets, and crop
selections. The number of different crops and the number of different
varieties of each individual crop grown on any given farm can reach an
impressive total. And sure, crop diversity is necessary for ensuring that
no matter what pressure is put on your plants by pests, diseases, and extreme
weather events that you still have a harvest that season. It may not be
the exact crop mix, yield, or ready at the time that you had planned, but crop
diversification helps ensure that farm income will be generated.

In these winter months, during time
spent perusing the seed catalogs and talking about varieties with other
farmers, it can be hard to exercise self-restraint when choosing your crops and
varieties for the upcoming season. Even if your seed order is already in,
it may only take one discussion on a listserv to generate excitement
about a new variety of pepper, fueling a desire to add more diversity to your
crop mix. Right now growing 40 varieties of heirloom tomatoes for display
at the farmers' market may seem like a fantastic (and completely manageable)
idea for drawing in customers; this same idea may lose its appeal when you are
sorting and labeling your harvest in August.

Here are some key things to consider
as you are finalizing your seed order and crop plan for the season:

·Your
Market: Do your customers, whether direct or wholesale, care about choosing
between varieties or just about you growing the tastiest option? Do you have to
grow every single crop you offer your CSA members or can you buy a few in?

·Your
Farm Systems: What inefficiencies will an increase in the number of crops or
varieties you grow create in your system? Are the associated costs offset by
the sales generated by your crop diversity? What systems (i.e.
record-keeping or employee management) can you put in place to minimize the
impact of these inefficiencies?

·Your
Time: Is there an opportunity cost associated with growing a large number of
different crops? Is there an opportunity cost associated with NOT growing
a large number of different crops on your farm? How can you spend your
time most productively (and profitably)?

·Your
Crop Mix: Are you satisfied with the crops and varieties you are currently
growing?

·Your
Interest: To what extent does having a high crop diversity or trialing
different crop varieties peak your interest and count as a value of your farm
business?

If that last point rings true to you, check out this article
by farmer Becky Maden to learn more about best practices for trialing new crop
varieties on your farm! Trial by Farmer

Monday, March 2, 2015

The Acidified Foods Workshop will be held Monday
and Tuesday, March 23-24, 2015 in Webb City, MO.

This
workshop is a Better Process Control School (BPCS) event specifically for
processors of acidified food products and meets the requirements of 21
CFR Part 114 for FDA regulated food manufacturers. Please contact Dr. Andrew
Clarke at the University of Missouri Food Science Program (573-882-2610) or ClarkeA@missouri.edu) if you have any
questions about the Acidified Food Workshop.

The
registration fee is $425 for the first person from a company and $325 for each
additional person from the same company or farm. There are a limited number of
$200 scholarships available for specialty crop growers. All participants will
be provided with workshop materials as well as lunch and refreshments during
breaks.

We
will confirm your registration and provide directions to the meeting location
by e-mail reply. If you have any questions or do not have e-mail access for
registration, please contact Eileen Nichols, 417-483-8139.

Cancellations

Cancellations,
with refund, will be accepted until two weeks prior to the start of the course. Cancellations
after March 16, 2015 will be charged $100 to cover preparation costs.

Lodging
Information

There
are limited lodging facilities available in Webb City, Missouri but more
options are available in Joplin, Missouri about 15 minutes away. The Holiday
Inn at 3615 Rangeline Road in Joplin, MO has a group rate of $87 per room per
night, including breakfast for two (ask for the Better Processing School rate)
at 417 782-1000. Reservations must be made by March 15. Other options do exist and most chains
provide directional advice on their websites. Participants make their own
reservations and lodging is not included in the cost of registration for the
Acidified Food Workshop.

Workshop Location

The
workshop will be held at the Webb City Public Library at 101 S. Liberty, Webb
City, MO.

Details

Manufacturers
of Acidified Food Products are invited to send representatives to our new
Acidified Foods Workshop at the Webb City Public Library on March 23-24, 2015.
This workshop was developed in conjunction with partners at the University of
Arkansas and Oklahoma State University to satisfy regulatory requirements for
processors of acidified foods. The workshop will help participants to
understand basic food safety principles and comply with 21 CFR Part 114.

The
two-day (7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) workshop is best for managers or process
operators responsible for the safety of acidified foods. New or relatively
inexperienced employees are welcome and a reduced registration fee will be
available for multiple representatives from a single company. The registration
fee will cover all educational materials, exams, and a food safety textbook
plus refreshments. In addition, the registration fee includes a laboratory
analysis of the pH and water activity for one product per participant.

At
the end of the program, there will be a "walk-through" of the
paperwork needed to file an acidified food process with FDA conducted by a
Process Authority. Every participant that successfully completes the workshop
will receive a certificate that may be used to verify the training for FDA or Missouri
Department of Health and Senior Services records.

The
Better Process Control School for thermally processed low acid foods and the
Acidified Food Workshop for acidified foods are available for companies or
agencies at their site. Please contact Dr. Andrew Clarke at 573-882-2610 or ClarkeA@missouri.edu for more information
and scheduling.

HACCP

The
University of Missouri will also host a workshop for Implementation of HACCP
for the Meat and Food Industry on March 25-27, 2015. Separate registration is
required for this workshop which is accredited by the International HACCP
Alliance for certificate-based instruction that satisfy USDA and FDA training
requirements. Contact either Andrew Clarke at ClarkeA@missouri.edu or Starsha Ferguson
at FergusonSD@Missouri.edu
for more information about the HACCP Workshop.

* A confidential
analysis of pH and water activity of one product per participant is included in
the workshop registration. Additional products can be tested for a fee
(please contact Andrew Clarke at ClarkeA@missouri.edu
for rates)